After a long offseason, we inch ever closer to week 1. and with that, it's time for the first official power rankings of the 2022 season.



To start the year, we see a huge shift in power has taken place over the course of the offseason, and many new teams fitting their way into the pack.

Let's start at the top. Cincinnati, who had a good year in 2021, making the playoffs and advancing to the divisional round, is set up for an even better season in 2022. They sit on top of the power rankings to start the year and have some lofty expectations in a division that has three teams in the top 10 of these power rankings at the moment. Louisiana, also in the Central Division sits at number 2. After a terrible season last year, the Royals can make some moves this year, and are an expected contender. The Texans, who made a deep playoff run in 2021 are looking like the best team in the Western Conference.

As we move down through the top 10, we see the Stags at 4 with division rivals, the Terror at 8. That should be a good rivalry in 2022. The Breakers and Express sit at 5 and 7 respectively, and will be fighting for the West Division title. Jacksonville sits at 6, and Oakland at 9. Rounding out the top 10 is the Central Division’s 3rd team near the top of the list, the Louisville Lightning. Expect Central Division teams, despite how their records end up, to be in the mix late in the playoffs, with the amount of talent on these teams.

Some notable teams in the middle of the pack include the defending champion Eagles at 12, and one of last years worst teams, the Flying Fleet, at 16. At 17, 18, and 19 we get to the first of 8 new teams to join the league, with Salt Lake, New York, and Chicago. The CityHawks will have the best chance of any of the expansion teams to earn a playoff spot this season, given their competition in the East division. Last years most talented team, the Keystones, are taking quite the step back in 2022, moving to the back half of the pack. Also taking a step back this year is the Gridiron Bowl runner ups, the Carolina Reapers (formerly the Norfolk Commanders).

At the bottom of the league power rankings, we see 4 of the last 5 teams being expansion teams. Now, this is partially because we don’t know what these teams may be capable of, so we will have to wait and see. For the only non expansion team in the bottom 5, we already know what the Bluebirds will be capable of this season; nothing.

We can’t wait to get the upcoming season started, and see where these teams all end up by the end of the year. At any rate, a lot of movement on this board is to be expected as we find out what these teams are really made of.

Austin Snelick
February 14, 2022